Netanyahu Seeks Israeli Talks With Lebanon 'As Soon As Possible'

Lebanese officials say dozens of people have been killed in the heaviest Israeli strikes on the country since the war in Iran broke out five weeks ago.

The strikes on April 8, which a Lebanese Health Ministry spokesman told Reuters killed 89 people and wounded 700 others, came amid contradictory claims about whether the Pakistan-brokered US-Iranian agreement on a two-week cease-fire included Lebanon.

The strikes, which Israel’s military said targeted over 100 command centers and military sites of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon, appeared to threaten the cease-fire agreement reached late on April 7 and shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which resumed under the deal after being blocked by Iran for weeks.

Citing an Iranian ministry statement, AFP reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi “discussed [Israel’s] violations of the cease-fire in Iran and Lebanon" with a senior Pakistani military leader on April 8.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency cited an unnamed source as saying Iran would withdraw from the cease-fire agreement if Israel continues to attack Lebanon. Fars, a semi-official Iranian news agency, reported that Iran halted oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz over the Israeli bombardments.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the cease-fire agreement included Lebanon, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it did not.

A White House correspondent for US public broadcaster PBS said on X that US President Donald Trump told her on April 8 that Lebanon was “not included in the deal” because of the presence there of Hezbollah, which has been designated by the United States as a terror group.

UPDATE: Lebanon's Health Ministry said the Israeli strikes on April 8 killed 182 people and wounded 890, adding that the updated toll was not final.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has noted violations of the temporary truce between the United States and Iran and warned all parties involved in the conflict to respect the two-week cease-fire to allow a chance for a diplomatic solution to end the war. "Violations of cease-fire have been reported at few places across the conflict zone which undermine the spirit of peace process. I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the cease-fire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict," he said in a social media post on April 8, a day after the truce was agreed. He did not elaborate on the violations, but several Gulf states have said they were the targets of Iran-launched ordinance. Tehran claimed it launched attacks on Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates after air strikes targeted oil facilities on Iran's Lavan island. The United States and Iran agreed to the two-week cease-fire late on April 7.

A fragile cease-fire appeared to be holding hours after being agreed to by the United States and Iran, with ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz and heavy bombing runs halted for the first time in more than a month.

The straight is a key shipping lane through which some 20 percent of the world's oil and gas passes. According to data from maritime monitor Marine Traffic, two ships had already passed through the waterway by midday on April 8.

"Early signs of vessel activity are emerging in the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire announcement, which includes a temporary reopening of the strategic waterway to allow for negotiations," the monitor said in a post on X, noting a Greek-owned bulk carrier and a Liberian-flagged vessel had already crossed through the strait.

To read the full report, click here.

President Donald Trump said the United States will work "closely" with Iran after reaching an agreement to suspend fighting for two weeks to work on a full peace deal.

"The United States will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change! There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear “Dust,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

"We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran," he added.

Hours after the United States announced a temporary cease-fire with Iran, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said they were fending off Iranian missile and drone attacks.

Separately, Iran announced that its oil facilities on Lavan Island were targeted in the morning of April 8.

The UAE Defense Ministry issued a statement on April 8, saying: "The UAE's air defense is countering missile and drone attacks originating from Iran."

The Kuwaiti military also announced that the country's air defenses had countered a "compact wave" of drone attacks by the Islamic republic starting at 8 a.m. local time. According to the statement, a total of 28 drones targeting Kuwait were intercepted.

According to the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, a number of these drones targeted vital oil facilities and power plants in the south of the country, resulting in "extensive material damage" to oil infrastructure, power plants, and desalination facilities.

The Kuwaiti Army General Staff emphasized that all necessary measures have been taken to monitor and counter these attacks.

Meanwhile, the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company announced that the Lavan Oil Refinery facility, located on Lavan Island, was attacked at around 10 a.m. local time.

According to the company's statement, there were no casualties in the attack, and safety and firefighting teams were controlling and extinguishing the fire and securing the facility.

There has been no report yet on the source of these attacks, but the Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, reported the two attacks in a short news report as follows: "The missile and drone attacks on the UAE and Kuwait took place hours after the oil facilities on Lavan Island in Iran were targeted."

Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian has confirmed to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Iran will participate in upcoming negotiations with the United States, scheduled to be held in Islamabad on April 10.

According to a statement from the Sharif's office, the two leaders held a "warm and cordial conversation" lasting over 45 minutes on April 8.

"President Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran's participation in the upcoming negotiations and expressed appreciation for Pakistan's efforts," Sharif wrote in a post on X following the phone call with the Iranian president.

Earlier, Sharif said he had invited US and Iranian delegations to Islamabad on April 10 "to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes."

Iran's semiofficial ISNA news agency reported that the country's conservative parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, is expected to lead the Iranian negotiating team, while US Vice President JD Vance is anticipated to represent the United States at the talks in the Pakistani capital.

However, these details have not yet been officially confirmed by either the US or Iranian governments.

US President Donald Trump said he thinks China was involved in getting Iran to negotiate a two-week cease-fire that was announced late on April 7.

Trump told the AFP news agency during a brief phone interview after the cease-fire deal that he believes Beijing played a role in pushing Tehran to negotiate.

"I hear yes. Yes they were," Trump said when asked if China was involved in bringing Iran to the table.

The Associated Press, citing unnamed sources, also reported that Chinese officials were in touch with Iranian counterparts to encourage Tehran to find a path to a cease-fire deal as the negotiations evolved.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on April 8 that Beijing welcomed the agreement for a two-week pause in the fighting.

"China has consistently advocated for ‌an immediate cease-fire and cessation of hostilities, as well as the resolution of disputes through political and diplomatic channels," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said during a daily press briefing.

Mao did not elaborate on the details of China's efforts when asked by reporters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the cease-fire between the United States and Iran, calling it the "right decision to ending the war," adding that Ukraine is "ready to respond in kind if the Russians stop their strikes."

"Ukraine has always called for a ceasefire in the war waged by Russia here in Europe against our state and our people, and we support the ceasefire in the Middle East and the Gulf that paves the way for diplomatic efforts," Zelensky wrote on X on April 8.

He added that "in recent weeks, Ukraine has been helping to protect lives in the Middle East and the Gulf" and announced that "Ukrainian expert military teams will continue to work in the region to help further develop security capabilities."

European leaders have expressed support for the two-week cease-fire announced by Washington and Tehran on April 8, although they emphasized the continuing need for de-escalation and diplomacy.

“Ceasefires are always good news. Especially if they lead to a just and lasting peace,” said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. “But this momentary relief cannot make us forget the chaos, the destruction, and the lives lost. The Government of Spain will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket.”

“What’s needed now: diplomacy, international legality, and PEACE,” he added in a post on X.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he welcomed the news of the temporary truce between Washington and Tehran, but added that the situation in Lebanon remains critical and called for Lebanon to be included in the deal. Israel earlier on April 8 released a statement saying that while it supports Trump's decision to stop attacking Iran for two weeks, the cease-fire doesn't include Lebanon.

"Our wish in ⁠this ​context is to be ​assured that the cease-fire fully includes Lebanon," Macron said.

Macron said about ​15 countries were planning to facilitate ‌the resumption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the ​world's oil supply usually flows.

"About 15 countries ​are currently mobilized and are participating in ​the planning, under France's leadership, to enable the implementation of this strictly defensive mission in ​coordination with Iran to facilitate the ​resumption of traffic," Macron said on April 8.

European Council President Antonio Costa said in a statement on X that he urges “all parties to uphold [the cease-fire’s] terms in order to achieve sustainable peace in the region. The EU stands ready to support ongoing efforts and remains in close contact with its partners in the region. I thank Pakistan and all other parties involved in facilitating this agreement.”

"I welcome ‌the two-week ceasefire the US and Iran agreed last night. It brings much needed de-escalation," European Commission President Ursula ​von der Leyen said on X, adding it was crucial negotiations continue for ⁠an enduring solution.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said that the agreement represents "a step ​back from the brink after weeks of escalation."

"It ​creates a much-needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles, restart ‌shipping, ⁠and create space for diplomacy towards a lasting agreement," she added.

With reporting by Reuters

NetBlocks, a web-outage monitor, says Iran's Internet blackout has entered its 40th day amid the announcement of a temporary cease-fire between the United States and Iran.

NetBlocks said in a post on X on April 8 that the "wartime censorship measure" continues in Iran even as Washington and Tehran "each declare victory," "with the Iranian people once again left in the dark."